The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-01-15
INDUSTRIAL TOPICS.
Consideration of a New Method
Of Removing Corn from the
Stalk and Cob.
Crops Which the Majority Of
Farmers Will Find No Profit
in Raising
Thrnshing Cut Corn.

Last season mention was made in
somo eastern agricultural papers OF
successful experiments in thrashing
corn directly from the stalks or without
removing the husks from the ears,
This year the subject has received more
attention, A re- ondent OF The
Raral Ne1O YorLer, eaJ was probably
the first to introduce this method of
preparing corn tor the bin, gives these
directions:
The machine used may be any sepa-
rator-machine, such as is used for grain
thrashing, or an old supcrannuated ma
chine will do, providing it is strong and
in good working order. To prepare 1t
for corn-thrashing the sections contain
Ing all the teeth. except two rows,
should be removed and some hard
wood plank substituted in their place.
The sections containing the remaining
teeth should be lowered" more or less
according to the corn TO be thrashed.
The corn should be well cured and the
stalks must be dry in order to keep
wei when put into NOW or stack. 1t Is
fed to the machine butts" foremost, and
as fast as the mill will properly clean the
thrashed corn or the elevator will carry
away the stalks. The better way is to
thrash as fast rs ii comes from the field,
although if quite dry or macino can
not be obtained at the time it may be
drawn and piled upon the NOV and
thrashed from there. In order to be easily
handled il should either have been bound
in small bundles when being cut, or
else have the "stoots} divided into them
and be well bound before loaded upon
the wagon for the barn.
The trouble of husking corn is saved
by this method. The ground where the
corn grew is cleared of stalks so that 1t
can be planted if the weather continues
favorable in the fall. The removal OF
the corn from the stock and cob is
quickly effected. II is claimed that
from four TO SIX hundred bushels OF
corn can be thrashed in ten hours by
the use of good machine operated by
the usual number of horses and men.
IL is also claimed that the stalks OF corn
are put in good condition for keeping
The large stalks are split and broken
up and are we'll mixed with the leaves
/. and broken cobs so that they are not
likely to mold when placed in large
stacks Ii dry straw be mixed with
them their preservation IS insured even
If thoy were quite green when they
were run through the machine. If this
method of treating corn becomes gen.
eral it is believed that some modllica-
ton on thrashing machines VIII be
made so that their owners will visit
farms for the purpose Of thrashng corn
a. Lluy NOW do FOR thraslIlng wheat ana
other small grains. If steam thrashers
are used it is thought that portion of
the stalks and leaves can be used for
fuel for generating steam
It is admitted that the corn removed
from the cob by thrashing machine
quite early in the fali contains much
moisture and that il cannot be put on
the market in that condition. Ii is also
admitted that it can not be kept on the
farm for feeding purposes unless 1t is
prepared for storage. IL is suggested
that the shelled corn, rs IL comes from
the thrashing machine, be spread on
the floor of the barn or other building
and shoveled over or turned once each
day till 1t becomes dry enough to put it
in bin. To insure its drying rapidly
while spread on the floor il is recon-
mendcd that the doors and windows OF
the barn be kept open so as to cause a
current of air to pass through. II Is
also suggested that the freshly thrashed
corn be mixed with old corn and then
placed in bin. II is claimed that the
old corn will absorb much of tho mois-
ture from the new and will be improved
by Il, il II is to be fed TO hogs and
Sheep. Being less hard and dry amin
ais will masticate il better and digest
It more read ". In case there is
house for drying hops or fruit on the
farm u could be used for drying the
moist corn as il comes from the ma
chime.
1t is not likely that this new method
Of treating corn will be regarded with
favor in this part Of the country. In
the west corniields are large and farms,
as a rule, are small Few farmers
have any suitable place for drying large
unantities OF damp corn. On a large
proportion Of farms all the corn ra sed
Is fed to cattle. hogs and sheep. and
here is no occasion for selling it Ex-
per ence and observation show that
horn dries faster and keeps better on
The ear than when II is shelled IL 70
also more easy 70 handle. Most farm